What does arduous mean?
Arduous is an adjective used to describe something that demands great effort, stamina, or perseverance to accomplish. An arduous task is not merely hard in a passing way — it implies sustained exertion over time, whether the challenge is physical, such as an arduous mountain ascent, or mental, such as an arduous legal battle or years of painstaking research. The word derives from the Latin arduus, meaning steep or high, which captures its core image: an uphill struggle that tests one's endurance. Arduous belongs to formal register and appears frequently in journalism, literature, and serious discourse about expeditions, reforms, negotiations, and long-term projects. Its synonyms include demanding, strenuous, laborious, and grueling, though each carries its own shade of meaning. Because it conveys both difficulty and dignity of effort, describing work as arduous often implicitly honors those who undertake it, making the word a useful choice whenever sustained struggle deserves recognition rather than mere complaint.
adjectiveRequiring great effort, energy, or exertion; difficult and demanding to carry out or accomplish.
- Requiring strenuous physical effort, as in an arduous journey or climb.
- Requiring sustained mental effort or persistence, as in an arduous negotiation or study.
"The rescue team faced an arduous climb through deep snow to reach the stranded climbers."
"The refugees endured an arduous trek across the mountains to safety."
"Writing her doctoral thesis proved to be an arduous undertaking that consumed nearly five years of her life."
Arduous comes from the Latin arduus, meaning "steep" — so when you call a task arduous, you're literally picturing it as an uphill climb.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of arduous
Arduous entered English in the early 17th century, borrowed from French or directly from the Latin adjective arduus, which meant steep, high, or difficult to climb. The Latin root gave English several related words, including ardor (intense passion) and ardent (passionate or enthusiastic), all stemming from the same base sense of intensity or elevation. Over time, arduous shifted from describing literal steepness to describing figurative uphill struggles — any endeavor requiring great exertion.
Related word forms
How arduous is actually used
Arduous is a formal word, most often found in written English rather than casual conversation. It carries a connotation of prolonged, sustained difficulty rather than momentary hardship, and it is typically applied to tasks, journeys, processes, and efforts rather than to people themselves.
Easily confused with arduous
"Tedious" describes something boring and monotonous, while "arduous" describes something physically or mentally demanding and exhausting.